HOMILY FOR THE 31ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

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Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Psalm 18:2-4, 47,51; Hebrew 7:23-28; Mark 12:28-34.

“CAN WE LOVE GOD?”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·      Today the church celebrates the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B. On this Sunday, we celebrate the Lord’s goodness. We celebrate the Lord’s mercy. We celebrate the immensity of the love of God.

·      The theme of love is very pronounced in the readings of this Sunday. The love of God has been poured into our hearts. We are expected to spread this love of God wherever we find ourselves.

·      When we talk about “love”, what kind of “love” are we referring to? There are several kinds of love, but the love we are referring to here today is “agape love”. Agape love is a love that is selfless, love that is sacrificial, love that is immeasurable and intent upon God.

·      Since the ten commandments is summarised into two: the love of God and the love of neighbour. Since God is a spirit and is outside time, infinite, omnipotent and omniscient. And we are humans, limited and imperfect. Can we really love God?

·      In the first reading (Deuteronomy 6:2-6), Moses commands the people of Israel to fear the Lord and obey his statues. The people will have long life, and all will go well for them in the land.

·      The second part of the first reading is popularly known as the “Shema Israel”: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart”. Every devout Jew is expected to recite this “Shema Israel” every day.

·      Beyond the command to recite the “Shema Israel”, the Letter of St. John tries to answer the nagging question: “Can we know God?” by asking the question, how can we love God whom we do not see, when we have not loved our fellow human beings whom we see? (1 Jn. 4:20).

·      The answer to the question “can we love God?” is Yes. We can love God through his creatures and creation. Since man is created in the image and likeness of God. We bear the mark of God. When we love our brothers and sisters, we invariably love God (Jn. 15:17).

·      The second reading (Hebrew 7:23-28) underlines the fact that due to our imperfections and inability to love as we ought to, God through his son the perfect high priest shows that true love entails laying down our lives for others. He offers a pleasing sacrifice once and for all, for the forgiveness of the sins of mankind.

·      However difficult the love for God might be, Christ the eternal high priest has been put before us as a model. Hence, we can love God. The best way to love God is through the crown of his creation which is our brothers and sisters.

·      In the Gospel reading (Mark 12:28-34), our voices are echoed in the voice of the Scribe asking Jesus which is the greatest of all the commandments. Like the Scribe, we are also wondering if we can sufficiently love God; if we are obeying the commandments and doing the will of God as we ought to.

·      Jesus in responding to the Scribe teaches us that there are two greatest commandments: the love of God and the love of neighbour. Since God is spirit and invincible, we can only see or love God in creatures created in his image and likeness. We can only love God through loving our brothers and sisters (Gen. 5:1).

·      The scripture also gives us an insight on how the judgement of mankind would look like. It is not necessarily on how much love we show to God himself but on how much love we share between our brothers and sisters. 

·      On judgment day we will ask the Lord, when did we see you naked and clothed you? When did we see you hungry and fed you? When did we see you homeless and welcomed you? When did we see you sick or imprisoned and visited you? And the Lord would answer, if you did these to the least of my brethren, you did them to me (Matt. 25:34-40).

·      Friends in Christ, love of neighbour is the answer. God wants us to show love to one another until it truly hurts. We can never outdo God in love but at least we can try to be like him. We can be another Christ to one another and be prepared to lay down our lives for others.

·      Yes, to show love hurts. Sometimes we can be taken for granted. Sometimes we are paid back with hate. Love all the same because Christ wants us to do so. When the burden of love becomes too heavy to bear, we can at least turn to God like the Psalmist and say: “I love you, Lord, my strength” (Ps.18:2). 

·      God is always there to give us the necessary graces and strength. May he strengthen in our moments of weakness, through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·      Happy Sunday!!! 

 

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